Latch lock



May 21, 1935. G. H. WHEARY 2,001,805

LATCH LOCK Filed May 14, 195A.

Patented May 2l,V 1935 PRICE? LATCH Loon George Henry Wheary,

Racine, Wis., assigner to Wheary Trunk Company, Racine, Wis., a cor` L poration of Wisconsin Applicationr May 14, 1934, Serial No. 725,448

10 Claims.

A i) This invention relates to improvements in latch locks and refersmore particularly to locking devices for luggage.

Itis anfobject'of this invention to provide a latch lock which yis simpleand rugged in construction and aiords a neat external appearance. I Another object vof r,this invention is to provide novel means for mounting the spring for `yieldingly urging the sections apart upon disengagement of the latch bolt from its keeper recess.-

A,Another object of this invention is to provide novelmeans for mounting the latch bolt and locke ing the same against actuation to its inoperative position. A

With the above and other objects in view which will appear,l as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly de- :ned bythe appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as `come within the scope of the claims.

Y In the accompanying drawing, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodimentof my invention constructed according to thebest mode I have so fardevised for the practical application ofthe principles thereof, aand in which:

Figure l is a perspective viewillustrating a portionof a Wardrobe suit case equipped with the `latch lock of this invention; v Y

, v'Figure 2 is a view of the back of the latch lock detached from the suit case and with a portion thereof brokenV away to illustrate structural de- `tai1s;- p j Y Figure 3 is a vertical section view through the {latch/lock taken substantially onjthe plane of the (line `3---3 of` Figure 2; Y

Figurel` is a perspective view of one of the sections of the latch lock illustrating the formation of the keeperand the spring to yieldingly 'urge theY sections apart; and A Figure 5 is a detail section view taken longitudinally through the lock mechanism on the plane "or the line 5 5 of Figure 2 and illustrating particularly the manner in which the latch releasing means is secured against actuation. #Referring now more particularly to the accom- "panyingY drawing, in which likenumerals indicate like parts throughoutthe several views, the numerals 5 and 6 designate the two sections or parts 4ol` a. suit. case or similar luggagewhich are to be secured together bythe Alatch lock.

(Cl. 70-2.) e

The latch lock of this invention comprises two sections 'I and 8 attached respectively to the `suit case parts 5 and 6 as illustrated.` Both sections 'I and 8 have covers .or housings Sand I0 `respectively, stamped fromV bendable metal with their medial portions pressed outwardly to provide cavities in which the mechanism of the latch lock is assembled. Y 'Y f I o The section 'I carries the latch bolt II which is confined between the outer'wall I2 of thecover or housing 9 and a metal plate I3 secured to the back thereof by hollow rivets I4. The hollow rivets I4 are preferably integral upset portions of the cover, and being hollow, provide .the apertures through whichthe fastenings I5 pass to se` cure the section `to the suit case part 5.

The metal plate I3 is substantially T shaped as illustrated in Figure 2, and vat opposite sides of its stem, spaced lugs I6 project inwardly toward the cover wall I2 to receive trunnions I'I extended outwardly from the adjacent legs of theglatch bolt II, which is substantiallyA U shaped. In this manner, the latch bolt is mounted so as to have a'limited degree of pivotal movement between the cover wall I2 and the plate I3.

At its upper `closed end portion, the latch bolt has two spaced lugs or earsA I8 bent laterally therefrom Atoward the cover wall I2 for engagement with a keeper recess I9 formed in a keeper 20, which is carried by the other section 8, Vthe vupper' edges of the lugs or ears IB being curved or inclined to facilitate the engagement thereof with the keeper recess.- 'I'he specic-construction of the keeper will be hereinafter more fully described. Y

, Fixed to the latch bolt is a hollow push button 2| to project through an opening in the cover wall I2 and afford meanswhereby the latch bolt may be pushed inwardly and disengaged from its keeper recess. 1 Y

A spring 22 conned between the bottomof the hollow push button and the plate I3 yieldingly Vopposes inward depression of the latch. bolt and yieldingly maintains the latchbolt engaged with its keeper recess. l l

Disposed betweenV the legs of the U shaped latch bolt and conned between the cover wall I2 and the plate I3 is a key controlled locking mechanism designated generally bythe numeral` 23. 'I'his locking mechanism may be of any suitable constructionV and in theV present instance embodies a plurality of tumblers 24, one of which is movable to a position indicated in dotted lines 25, disposed between the closed upper end of. the pivoted latch bolt and the plate` I3 to positively linforcing plate, has the The lock mechanism includes a cylinder 26 exposed on the outer face of the cover wall i2 for Vthe reception of a key 2 through which the tumblers `are actuated to effect the movement of the locking tumbler to and from its operative bolt securing position. The specific construction of vthe lock mechanism, however, forms no part of this invention and is therefore not shown in detail.

It is to be observed that the entire latch bolt and its operating mechanism are confined within the hollow of the cover l2 which, as stated, is open at its back and is closed at all sides so that the cover affords a convenient and neat housing for the latch bolt and its operating mechanism.' The side wall 30, which abuts the sidewall ,3l of the cover I of sectiony 8, is apertured as at 32 to permit the projection of the keeper 2Q into the cover or housing l2 for engagement with the latch bolt.

' rIhe side wallV 3i! also aiTords a rigid abutment against which a spring 33 carried by the section 8 engages to yieldingly urge the sections apart and automatically separate the same upon disengagement of the latch bolt from its keeper recess.

The keeper 2l] is formed by a tongue integral with a reinforcing plate34 secured in the hollow ofthe cover lU also by hollow rivets I4, which, as stated, may be part of the cover and being hollow, provide means through which the fastenings I pass to secure the section 8 to the suit case part 6.

The reinforcing plate is formed of hardened metal and as best illustrated in Figure 4, has a central slit or opening 35 substantially dividing the same into two portions '3E and 31. The portion 31 is depressed or offset with respect to the portion 36 to lie directly adjacent the outermost Wall 38 ofthe cover I0, which as seen in Figure 3, occupies the same plane as the cover wall l2 of the section 1. The tongue forming the keeper 2S projects from this portion 3l through an opening 39 cut in the vside wall 3|.

A pin 40 carried by the portion 3l of the re- Y looped or closed end 4I of the spring 33 engaged thereover. This spring is substantially of hairpin shape with one leg 42 thereof engaging the edge 43 of the opening or slit 35 and its other leg 44 curved outwardly to project through the opening 39 for engagement with the side wall 3y of section l, and with the eX- tremity of its leg 44 arranged to abut the side wall 3l to limit outwardprojection of the leg 44, as will be readily apparent.

It is to be observed that the extremity of the leg 42 is cut off at an angle as at 45 with the point of the angle innermost so that the normal spring tension acting through the angularity of the cut end 45, serves to retain this end ofthe spring in engagement with the edge 43.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, that the latch lock of this invention is of simple and rugged construction and that it provides an exceptionally neat Yexternal appearance.

What I claim as rnyinvention isz.

1. In a latch lock of the character described, two complementary sections adapted to be attached to two parts to he secured together, said sections having stamped metal covers arranged to abut each other, a spring carried by one section and engageable with the other to yieldingly urge the sections apart, a latch bolt disposed within the stamped cover of one section, and a keeper carried by the other section for engagement with the latch bolt to hold the sections together against the action of said spring, said keeper being an integral part of a hardened metal plate secured in the cover of said other section, and having parts thereof on different planes so as to afford a shoulder against which the spring abuts.

2. In a latch lock of the character described, complementary( sections adapted to be attached to two parts to be secured together, stamped metal housings for the sections adapted to abut, a latch bolt disposed within the housing of one section, arkeeper carried by the other section and arranged to enter the housing of the first section for engagement with the latchl bolt, said keeper being an apertured tongue Aintegral with and extending from a reinforcing plate secured in the housing of said other sectionfand` a spring carried by said reinforcing plate to engage the rst designated section as the sections approach each other to yieldingly oppose movement toget-her and thereby automatically spread the sections apart upon release of the latch bolt from its 'keeper recess.'

3. In a latch lock of the lcharacter described, two complementary sections adapted for attachment to 'two parts'to be secured together, each of said sections having a stamped cover formed with a hollow cavity, a metal plate secured to the inner face of one section over its hollow cavity, a latch bolt pivotally mounted from said metal plate and disposed between said metal plate and the cover, spring means to yieldingly urge the latch bolt forwardly toward the cover, means on said latch bolt projecting through the cover for depressing the latch bolt against the action of its spring means to an inoperative position, lock mechanism confined between said metal plate and the cover and operablefrom the exterior of the cover to secure the latch bolt against actuation to its operative position, and a keeper carried by the other section and adapted to enter the cavity of the first section for operative engagement with the latch bolt. l

4. In a latch lock of the character described, two sections adapted for attachment to two parts to be secured together, a latch bolt carried by one section, a keeper carried by the other section and engageable with the latch bolt, said other section having a hollow housing open at its' back and closed on all sides, a reinforcing plate'fixed to said hollow housing withportions thereof on different planes to dene a shoulder, a tongue integral with said reinforcing plate and projecting through an opening in one side wall of the cover, said tongue being apertured to provide a keeper for the latch, and a spring carried by said reinforcing plate with a portion thereof bearing against the shoulder and another portionV projecting through said opening in the side wall of the cover for engagement with the first designated section. v

5. In a latch lock of the character described, two sections adapted'to be attached to two parts to be secured. together, a latch bolt carried by one section, a keeperv carried by the other section and engageable with `the latch bolt, said other section comprising a cover having Aa cavity with a opening through one side wallthereof, a reinforcing plate secured in said cover with portions thereof on different planes to define a shoulder and having a tongue projecting integrally therefrom through said opening, said tongue being apertured to form the keper, and a substantially hairpin-shaped spring having one leg bearing against said shoulder and its other leg curved to project through the opening for engagement with the other section and its extremity engageable with the cover adjacent said opening to limit the outward projection thereof.

6. In a latch lock of the character described, two sections adapted to be attached to two parts to be secured rtogethera latch bolt carried by one section and a keeper carried by the other section, said keeper being an apertured projection on a hardened metal reinforcing plate secured in said other section, said hardened metal reinforcing plate having a central opening to divide the same generally into two portions which are oiiset with respect to each other so that one Vedge of said central opening provides a shoulder, and a spring having a part bearing against said shoulder and engageable with the other section to yieldingly urge the sections apart.

7. In a latch lock of the character described, two sections adapted to be attached to two parts tol be secured together, a latch bolt carried by one section and a keeper carried by the other section and engageable with the latch bolt, said keeper being an apertured tongue projecting from a hardened metal reinforcing plate secured to said other section, said reinforcing plate having a central opening dividing the reinforcing plate substantially into two portions andV the` plate being offset so that its two portions lie in diiierent planes and the edges of Vthe central opening afford well defined abutments, a pin carried by the reinforcing plate, and a substantially hairpinshaped spring having its closed end engaged over said pin and having the extremity of one leg bearing against the abutment formed by one edge of the central opening and its other leg curved to project from the adjacent wall of said other section for engagement with the rst designated section to yieldingly urge the sections apart.

8. In a latch lock of the character described, two complementary sections adapted to be attached to. two parts to be secured together, a latch bolt carried by one section and a keeper carried by the other section, said other section comprising a stamped metal cover formed with a cavity open at its back and closed at all sides with the side wall facing the rst designated section provided with an opening through which the keeper projects for extension into the iirst designated sec- Vable withthe other section to tion, said keeper being an apertured tongue integral with and projecting from a hardened metal reinforcing plate secured in said cover, said reinforcing plate having a central slit and being oiiset at opposite sides of said slit to provide portions on different planes and whereby the edges of said slit form well defined shoulders, the apertured tongue providing the keeper extending from the portion of the reinforcing plate nearest the bottom of the cavity in the cover, and a spring projecting through the opening in said cover side wall and overlying the apertured tongue for engagement with the first designated section to yieldingly spread the sections apart upon release of the latch bolt from the keeper.

9. In a latch bolt of the character described, two complementary sections adapted to be attached to two parts to be secured together, one of said sections having a keeper projecting therefrom for. extension into the other section, said other section being stamped of bendable metal and I provided with a hollow cavity, a metal plate closing said hollow cavity at the rear of the cover, a latch `bolt pivoted from said metal plate with a part engageable with the keeper as the sections are brought together, spring means confined between the pivoted latch bolt and said metal plate to yieldingly urge the latch bolt to its operative position, a button carried by the latch bolt and projecting through an opening in the cover, whereby the latch bolt may be depressed against the action of its spring means to disengage the same from the keeper, and lock means confined between said metal plate and the cover and operable from the exterior of the cover to secure the latch bolt against movement to its inoperative position.

10. In a. latch lock of the character described, two complementary sections adapted to be attached to two parts to be secured together, a latch bolt carried by one section, a keeper carried by the other section and engageable with the latch bolt, and a spring carried by one section and engageyieldinglyurge the sections apart, said spring being substantially hairpin-shaped with one leg thereof curved outwardly for engagement with the abutting portion of the adjacent section and its other leg engaging a shoulder on the section carrying the spring, the extremity of said other leg being cut at an angle with its point innermost so that the tension of the spring acting through the angle of the cut end of said leg tends to retain said leg engaged with said shoulder.

GEORGEVHENRY WHEARY. 

